The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-03-16
FRANZ PROMISE.
From the Cornhill Magazine.
A I'M

0ed."
f"rhe weather is good, Herr, but
"But what, Franz"
81 do not like the I.yskamm."
"And why don't you like the Lys-
4amm, Franz"
Herr, there is fearful cornce
ahis year"
"We'll take our chance ofthat. We
rant tell what it's like till we Try, and
II We find it too bad we can always
turn back. When must we start?"
ut win be time il we leave here at
g." !
Good! Then you'll call us about 1.
Guten Abend, Franz"
"Guten Abend, Herr; schlafen sie
vohl."
The above conversation took place
one exquisite August evening outside
the old Riffcl Hotel. Table dhote
was over, and the usual assemblaga
4oi climbers, guides and others were
there, watching the declining light OF
q glorious sunset fading slowly away
from the mighty precipices of the Mat
ferhorn, and from the other SUBMITS
oil that, to my mind, the grandest
range in all the Alps.
The season up to that time had not
been good one, and but little climb
ing had been done, but with the pro-
spects of good weather, OF which that
morning had given unmistakable
promise, every one took heart, and
the number OF expeditions that were
Mt once planned for The following day
was something astonishing.
Every available guide was book
ed, i" and the courteous lady who at
fhat time presided over the Riffel was
at her wits ends TO know where to ac-
commodate all who asked that night
for sleeping ! myself was not a
NOVICE ut climbing, having spent sew.
eral seasons in the Alps. and for some
years ] had been member of the Al
pine Club. had been up most OF the
great peaks around Xermatt, but |
had no. yet assembled the Lyskamm
l4,SS feet), and 1t was for the pur-
pose OF doing the Lyskamm chat had
come to the Riilel.
| was accompanied by q fellow
Member OF the Alpine Club named
Il IA oil, al
charming companion and had my
guide Franz, who had been with me on
most OF my previous expeditions, and
N whose steadiness AMI skill | had
reason to have the greatest con-
fdence. Franz YVES n man OF forty or
80, tall, and OF splendid physique
with a good, honest, weather. beaten
countenance, and to which u long mus
tache gave a somewhat military APP
pearance.
In intelligence he was greatly superb !
or to the ordianry run OF guides, for |
he could talk well upon other subjects
besides the one topic of mountains. |
Burns and /, being in some favor
with the authorities at the Riffel. we're
fortunate in getting room to our
selves; but score or so of travellers, |
sor whom no other space could be |
Bound, had to repose rs best they |
could on the floor oil the saloon, and |
tucky were they who could secure
mattress, for even mattresses gave out |
at last.
We turned in early; but, as can
never sleep on the eve of an expedi-
4 Of .ul.n -
knock, soon after ! O'Clock, warned us
that it was time for us to be up.
4hls getting up is, / think, the most
aisagreeablepart ofan expedition.
have a particular objection to
dressing in bad light, feeling all the
Vhile only half awake and-but low
be it spoken-more than half disposed
60 envy those who are not leaving
lheir beds at such an unearthly hour.
! dislike, too, the early breakfast
q melancholy meal, tobe got over as
rs possible; and, on this
point, every one seems to be agreed,
Tor ut the RifIel, at all events, | have
observed that 1t is usually despatched
IN solemn silence. The very look OF
the sleepy servant who brings III the
poifee exercises u depressing influence,
rs well. it may.
Then there is that getting into boots
flor am not one OF those inconsider.
ate individuals who puts his on up
stairs and comes pounding down, to
bhe detriment of sleep in those who do
aot happen to be getting up so early,
Ind boots, to begin with, feel hard, if
rot absolutely uncomfortable,
But, after all. what are these minor
lisarreeables beside the extraordinary
mount of pleasure that is TO be got
Dut OF climbing? They perhaps make